1 Thessalonians 2:7

Gentle. Gr. epioi, “mild,” “kind,” “loving.” Textual evidence is divided (cf. p. 10) between the readings epioi and nepioi, “infants,” “babes” (see on Matt. 11:25). “Gentle” fits the context well.

Nurse. The apostle compared himself, in his loving disinterestedness, to a nursing mother, who may or may not be the real mother, who is wholly bent on bestowing love on her child. Instead of making demands on the Thessalonians, acting as “lords over God’s heritage” (1 Peter 5:3), the evangelists were most solicitous of their converts’ welfare.